Phillies Place Starting Pitcher Cliff Lee on the DL

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The Philadelphia Phillies rough season was dealt yet another blow Thursday. Starting pitcher Cliff Lee was placed on the disabled list after re-injuring his left elbow, and could miss the rest of the season.

In the third inning against the Washington Nationals, Lee threw one pitch to outfielder Denard Span and knew something was wrong. He walked off the field frustrated, knowing that his elbow was hurt yet again.

“The last inning, it never fully went away and it came on a little stronger the next six or seven pitches I threw,” he said. “It was there every throw and I just felt like if I kept throwing, something was going to snap, and I just wanted to make sure that didn’t happen.

Lee was making just his third start since returning from the DL for a flexor pronator strain that kept him out of action for two months.

The 35-year-old Lee went 6-7 this season with a 3.65 ERA in 13 starts. He’s earning $25 million this season.